Starts Thursday 10th October 9.30 – 11.30am
at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre
Tag: learning
Additional support for learning: £15 million to recruit frontline staff
Approximately 1,000 extra pupil support assistants will be recruited this year to work with children with additional support needs.
This week the First Minister announced £15 million for councils to expand on the 13,636 pupil support assistants already working in Scotland’s classrooms – but the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition say greater investment yet is still required.
Visiting West End Campus in Dundee, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Every child should have the support they need to reach their full learning potential.
Through listening to the experiences of children and young people with additional support needs, their families and those who support them, we recognise we need to do more to enhance their experience at school.
“Working in partnership with local authorities we will invest an extra £15 million in the coming year to increase frontline staff to support learners with additional support needs.
“This will make an significant impact in our classrooms and will help to ensure our young people and their families get the right help at the right time.”
COSLA Spokesperson Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “Additional resource for Local Government is always welcomed and this funding will make a positive difference to children and young people in classrooms across Scotland, helping those with additional support needs to reach their full potential on their school journey.
“Core Local Government services like education are vital to all of Scotland’s communities and COSLA will work hard in the coming months to ensure that Councils across Scotland continue to have the resources they need to support every child, young person, citizen and community.”
Responding to the Scottish Government announcement, a spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition commented: “This increase in investment to expand the number of pupil support assistants working in Scotland’s schools is to be greatly welcomed.
“However, what is also vital is boost in the number of ASN teachers, who have seen their numbers slashed over the last few years, as well as specialist support staff.
“Between 2012 and 2018 the number of specialist teachers supporting those with ASN has decreased from 3,840 to 3,437, a decline of 403, representing a new low.
“There has also been a fall in the number of specialist support staff in key categories such as behaviour support staff, where the number has dropped by 58 from 2012 (from 180 to 122) and by 43 in the number of educational psychologists (from 411 to 368).
“This fall is against the background of an overall increase by 68.7 per cent since 2012 in the number of pupils identified with ASN, from 118,034 to 199,065 in 2018, representing just over a quarter of all pupils (28.7 per cent).
“Figures reveal that per pupil spend on those with ASN has slumped from £4,276 in 2012/13 to £3,387 in 2017/18. This amounts to a cut of £889 per pupil, representing a 26.1 per cent drop in real terms (20.8 per cent in cash terms).
“It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need, which is also key if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap. Any increase in support, which this Scottish Government announcement does, is to be welcomed, but this is clearly challenging in an environment of austerity and evidence of cuts in sspending per pupil with ASN.”
Game Over! Future jobs don’t have parents’ approval
75% of Parents value traditional subjects over creativity
OUT OF TOUCH parents are trying to steer their children away from pursuing lucrative 21st century careers, because they don’t understand the opportunities, a study shows.
Three quarters of mums and dads believe that conventional academic subjects such as Maths and English taught at school and beyond, are more valuable than creative and new technology subjects.
New research has revealed that despite the creative industries being one of the fastest growing sectors, with an estimated 2 million jobs available, there is still a sentiment from parents that they wouldn’t be happy if their child chose to pursue a creative career.
Parents appear to have overlooked the opportunities available within expanding fields such as game development, visual effects, art, music and social media, according to a poll of 1,000 parents of under 18 year olds, commissioned by Escape Studios.
When asked which degrees would be most valuable from a lifelong career perspective – parents identified as their top three choices – Computing (13%), Medicine (12%) and Engineering (11%). The arts ranked last at 2%. These findings showcase the importance of educating parents in the growth of the creative sector, as the future workforce will help to build our growing creative industries, which as of 2018 contributes £101.5 billion to the economy[2].
Due to parents’ lack of understanding of the career options available within the creative industries, almost half said they would try to influence the degree their teenager chooses to study at university. Dads (49%) are more likely to influence this than mums (39%).
Parents stated that they would be happier if their children opted for career paths such as training to become an Engineer (29%), a Doctor (37%) or a Scientist (23%), while the most disliked future career paths were identified as Social Media Influencer (35%), Bloggers (31%) and Gamers (27%).
Only 8% of parents wanted their child to pursue being a Visual Effects Artist or Animator, even though the creative industries can offer many lucrative job opportunities. Forecasts predict the UK could create up to 1 million new jobs in the sector by 2030[3].
Parents believe that the most important subjects for their children to study in school are Maths (67%), English (62%) and Computing (54%). Crafts, Music, Art and Design each received less than 20%.
Parents need more support when it comes to understanding the opportunities available within the creative industries. The classical boundaries between industries are also rapidly becoming blurred, due to advancements in technology; as a result, there is a need for digital skills in more conventional roles too. Indeed, recruiters within the creative industries are sourcing talent from varied backgrounds, such as science, art and engineering.
The parents participating in the poll acknowledged that allowing their children to play video games offered some benefits, including the development of theirproblem-solving skills (53%), logic skills (51%) and communication skills (25%).
Commenting on these abilities, Director of Escape Studios Dr. Ian Palmer, said: “Skills such as problem-solving, decision making, risk-taking, and communication can all be used in jobs across the creative industries. Alongside storytelling and imagination.
“Children that adopt to technology at an early age learn skills that offer them a better chance of getting a job in the digital sectors. We know there is a wealth of opportunity in terms of roles that are also future-proof. It’s predicted that 87% of creative jobs are resistant to automation, creating a very resilient creative workforce.”
Despite this, nearly half of parents (47%) think that smartphones shouldn’t be allowed in school, as a tool for learning. However, 71% admit that allowing their children to use technology from an early age, is beneficial for their development.
The top 5 jobs that parents would ideally like their children to pursue, are:
- Engineer (29%)
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Doctor (27%)
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Scientist (23%)
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Lawyer (18%)
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Architect (16%)
The top 5 jobs that parents ideally don’t want their children to pursue, are:
- Social media influencer (35%)
Blogger (31%)
Gamer (27%)
Stockbroker (15%)
Banker (13%)
Dr. Ian Palmer, Director of Escape Studios added: “The creative industries continue to grow at a substantial rate; despite this, not enough parents are aware of the opportunities available to their children within this sector.
“At Escape Studios, we offer courses in Game Art, Animation, Visual Effects, and Motion Graphics. We have a wealth of alumni who have gone on to have successful careers working on everything from Avengers: Infinity War, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,Guardians of The Galaxy: Vol 2, and the Oscar winning film, The Jungle Book. This is a rapidly growing industry that’s ready to welcome talent from all backgrounds and with a wealth of skill sets.”
Italian conversation classes at Blackhall Library
Ciao!
We thought you might like some Italian conversation classes.
Please show your interest by phoning Blackhall Library at 0131 529 5595 or book yourself in at the desk.
Classes are suitable for adults and will last 1hour.
A presto (See you soon)!
Make time to learn
The University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Open Learning’s Short Courses partnered with Edinburgh’s Royston Wardieburn Community Centre to offer a daytime archaeology course for the local community.
The ‘Making Connections’ course, taught by Archaeology Teaching Fellow Kristian L.R.
The University of Edinburgh
Short courses
You don’t have to study for a degree to learn with us. We have a huge range of options that allow you to study at a time and pace that suits you.
With our short courses, you can learn during the day, in the evening, at weekends or at a Summer School. Courses range from Jewellery Making and Elementary Norwegian to those where you can earn credit towards a qualification. You may also be eligible for support ranging from a Personal Tutor to academic and sometimes financial support. If your company or organisation would benefit from a team-building or training course, the Business School can tailor a bespoke course to meet your needs.
Centre for Open Learning
The Centre for Open Learning offers short courses in subjects from Archaeology, Art and Design and Creative Writing through to History, Psychology and Politics. No prior knowledge of the subject is usually required.
If you can’t commit to a weekly slot over five or 10 weeks, then you can try a Saturday taster session, a weekend course or one of our Summer Schools. We may also be able to provide financial assistance such as discounts for alumni or help with fees for those on certain kinds of benefit.
Find a short course to suit you
Learn a language
Courses are available in more than 20 languages from Arabic to Welsh, British Sign Language, Japanese and Swahili. If you just want to brush up on your French or Italian for a holiday, or take a serious interest in Chinese Advanced, we’ve got just the course for you.
Studying for Credit
Credit Plus courses are short courses with study and essay-writing skills built in. They are designed for students who want to study for credit at university level for the first time, or in a subject they haven’t studied before. This type of course includes subjects such as Film Studies, How Art Works and Introducing Scottish Social History.
These credits count towards a Certificate of Higher Education, a national qualification recognised by employers and other universities. Everyone who takes this route has support from a Personal Tutor who helps you with academic guidance and support.
Part-time Access Programme
This part-time programme is primarily for adult students who are returning to learning after a break from study. It has been carefully designed to prepare students with few or no prior qualifications to study for a degree in Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences.
If you are accepted onto the course, you will be a fully matriculated student at the University with access to all the facilities available to other students, including extensive academic and pastoral support.
The programme will be run from late summer 2018 and finish in June 2019, and we will announce the process for applying in early 2018. For further information about the Part-time Access Programme, please email the Centre for Open Learning.
Education for Business
Our triple-accredited Business School delivers bespoke options for Executive Education which are designed to challenge, inspire and transform your thinking and that of your company. A range of courses is available from two-day Masterclasses to accredited MBA level courses and customised programmes tailored to your company’s needs.
Edinburgh College course clearing event on Thursday
Edinburgh College is hosting a Course Clearing Event this week to provide support and guidance to young people following SQA exam results day.
The event is aimed at helping anyone who has received their results to work out what they want to do next and discover the right college course for them. Continue reading Edinburgh College course clearing event on Thursday
Exam Results Day: help is at hand
Thousands of young people will have access to information, advice and support when the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) exam results helpline opens.
Expert careers advisers will be on hand to discuss next steps with young people receiving their results and to provide more information to parents and carers who are keen to understand the choices available.
The helpline will be available from 8am to 8pm today and tomorrow (Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 August), and from 9am to 5pm weekdays from Thursday 8 until Wednesday 14 August. The number to call is 0808 100 8000.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney met some of the advisers who will be standing by to provide dedicated support. He said: “I want to wish everyone receiving exam results the very best of luck and offer my congratulations on the culmination of all your hard work.
“This is an extremely significant time but it is important to remember that this is the start of a journey, not the end. If your results are what you hoped for that is great news but if you miss out on the grades you were looking for, or do even better than expected, there is a huge variety of options available to you that the SDS careers advisers are on hand to talk through.”
James Russell, Skills Development Scotland’s Director of Career Information, Advice & Guidance Operations, said: “If your results aren’t what you expected don’t panic, you have lots of options.
“Skills Development Scotland is Scotland’s career service and our experienced advisers are here to help you and your parents and carers with information on all the options and opportunities available to you.”
The helpline is free to call however some operator charges may apply. Get in touch with the helpline via Facebook or Twitter.
Results information and advice is also available on Scotland’s careers website My World of Work.
Find out more about the role of a Skills Development Scotland careers adviser.
Getting Ready to Trade?
International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox MP has announced the world’s first training programme to recruit tomorrow’s trade negotiators. Continue reading Getting Ready to Trade?
Calling the Curious: The RSE launches new Summer Events programme
Looking for something a bit different this summer? The RSE (Royal Society of Edinburgh) is launching Curious, a month-long programme of talks, workshops, exhibitions and performances in the beautiful surroundings of its magnificent Victorian era building to explore some of the most pressing and interesting issues and ideas of the day. Continue reading Calling the Curious: The RSE launches new Summer Events programme
Adult Education courses at The Botanics
Our 2019/20 Adult Education Programme is out now!
Whether you want to brush up on your art; heal with herbs; develop your photography skills or simply enjoy the peace that being in the Garden can bring, with over 100 courses running this year there is sure to be something for everyone.
View the full programme here: